Orrin Hatch: “I will not say much here today except that I knew Ron Brown very well. I thought he was one of the finest people in this…”

“I will not say much here today except that I knew Ron Brown very well. I thought he was one of the finest people in this town. I knew him when he was a leader on the Judiciary Committee under Senator Kennedy, and we were friends ever since. Many times I have lamented that we did not have as competent and tremendous a leader in our party as then Chairman Brown was. We had good people. We can be proud of them. But Chairman Brown did one of the best jobs I have ever seen done in a national election. I also have traveled around the world and have seen some of the work that he has done with regard to the Commerce Department's work and opportunities, and he did a terrific job. He was well recognized all over the world as somebody who advanced America's business. I personally want to send a message to his family and to those who loved Ron Brown that I did, too, and I had cared for him. Had I not been in the Balkans during that time--we left the day after the accident--with the minority leader and Senator Reid, I would have been at his funeral to pay my respects to him and his family. Of course, I am very grieved and hurt by this tragic accident. I also want to extend my sympathy to all of the families of those who died in that tragic accident.”